By Jack Luke

Published: Friday, 10 June 2022 at 12:00 am

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Hear-ye! Hear-ye! BikeRadar declares the time doth toll for new cycling swag!

Yes, that’s right, it’s time for this week’s edition of First Look Friday – your intravenous hit of the hottest new cycling tech to land at BikeRadar HQ.

If an $800 cycling outfit, shiny new lights and a shred-tastic gravel bike suspension fork aren’t quite enough for you, why not take a look back at the very best of BikeRadar this week?

The last seven days brought yet more Bike of the Year 2022 reviews, with the Cube Stereo 120 HPC 29, Scott Addict RC, Saracen Ariel 50E Elite and BMC Roadmachine X gracing the BikeRadar homepage.

We also brought you four of the very tastiest bikes from Unbound 2022 – the most important event on the gravel racing calendar.

A round-up of seven of the freshest mountain bike tyre inserts on the market – a relatively new and burgeoning product category – was also a highlight.

Finally, we saw the release of the all-new Garmin Edge 1040 bike computer. This introduces solar charging and, finally, a move to USB-C charging.

Eliel Del Dios collection cycling kit

The Del Dios collection is California-based cycling brand Eliel’s new top-end, performance-focused kit.

Said to be five years in the making, the Del Dios collection is Eliel’s vision of what an “absolutely uncompromising cycling kit would look and feel like”.

Felix Smith / Our Media

Eliel’s Del Dios bib shorts are made from abrasion-resistant nylon with a lightly knitted construction that, Eliel claims, offers light aero properties.

In addition, the shorts are constructed from “​​an ergogenic fabric that reflects heat energy back to the body”.

This is claimed to “promote micro blood circulation, reducing lactic acid build-up and improving oxygen transfer thus supporting the leg muscles during long/hard pedalling sessions”. Heady stuff!

Jack Luke / Our Media

The Del Dios jersey is made from proprietary fabrics that are claimed to reduce aerodynamic drag, with the effect most pronounced at “speeds ranging from 25km/h to 50km/h”. No figure is provided for these claimed savings.

Finally, the vest is made from a densely woven fabric that is windproof without relying on an additional laminate layer.

The inside of the vest is lined with a grid of flocked squares that helps to trap heat without increasing bulk.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, such high-end kit comes with a high-end price tag to match (international pricing N/A):

• Eliel Del Dios vest: $225
• Eliel Del Dios bib shorts: $350
• Eliel Del Dios jersey: $225

For those counting along at home, that’s an $800 outfit without factoring in a base layer, socks, shoes or a helmet… or sunglasses.

We look forward to testing the kit to find out if its performance lives up to its premium price tag.

• Buy the Del Dios collection direct from Eliel